The LG G3 Stylus adds a pen, cuts back on everything else

The LG G3 Stylus might share a name with its flagship sibling, but there are some significant difference between the two handsets. While the device holds on to some of the features of the high-end device, its internals – most notably its display – are a different story.

LG is keen to paint the G3 Stylus with the same brush as its top-tier G3 handset released earlier this year. The good news is that the new smartphone holds on to the stylings of the flagship device, and also packs in what the company calls a Rubberdium stylus. There are Quickmemo, Memo and Notebook apps included, allowing users quickly jot down notes with the included pen.

Unfortunately, the screen on the G3 Stylus is a big step down from the G3, offering a resolution of just 960 x 540 over 5.5-inches. That’s just 200 pixels per inch (PPI) – less than 40 percent of the 534 PPI found on the flagship handset, and even a far cry from the 326 PPI in Apple's Retina Display iPhones.

The processor offering is similarly downgraded, with the Stylus running on an unspecified 1.3 GHz quad core chip, backed up by 1 GB RAM. There’s only 8 GB of on board storage, but the company has included a microSD card slot on the device, making memory expansion a breeze. And since the handset is aimed at emerging 3G markets, you won’t even find an LTE radio inside.

While the G3 Stylus might drop its siblings' Quad HD display and high-end internals, it does hold on to a few other features that make it a more compelling release. The device’s 13 MP rear camera features the same laser-based tap-to-capture functionality that we praised on the flagship device, and you’ll get the same Knock Code pattern unlocking that we’ve seen in recent LG releases.

Given the mid-range nature of the specs here, we can’t see the G3 Stylus taking on high-end devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (or its imminent successor), but perhaps it will provide an easy entry point for anyone looking to try out a stylus-packing handset for the first time.

The LG G3 Stylus is will be available in black, white or gold when it launches first in Brazil next month. The device will then see releases in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and CIS. The company has yet to announce pricing information.

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